Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ivory'

English Word: ivory

Key Russian Translations:

• слоновая кость [slɐˈnovəjə ˈkostʲ] - [Formal, often used in scientific, historical, or legal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This term appears in specialized discussions on wildlife, history, or trade, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of compound nouns and genitive constructions, which are common in Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

слоновая кость: [slɐˈnovəjə ˈkostʲ]

Note on слоновая кость: The stress falls on the third syllable of "слоновая" and the second syllable of "кость." Be mindful of the palatalized 'tʲ' sound in "кость," which can be challenging for non-native speakers. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel lengths.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The hard, white material from the tusks of elephants or similar animals.

Translation(s) & Context:

• слоновая кость - Used in formal contexts such as wildlife conservation, historical artifacts, or legal discussions about trade bans.

Usage Examples:

• В музее выставлена коллекция изделий из слоновой кости.

  In the museum, there is a collection of ivory artifacts on display.

• Международные законы запрещают торговлю слоновой костью для защиты животных.

  International laws prohibit the trade of ivory to protect animals.

• Слоновая кость использовалась в древних ювелирных украшениях.

  Ivory was used in ancient jewelry pieces.

• Экологи борются с браконьерством, которое угрожает популяции слонов из-за слоновой кости.

  Ecologists are fighting poaching that threatens elephant populations due to ivory.

• Современные художники избегают использования слоновой кости в своих работах из этических соображений.

  Modern artists avoid using ivory in their works for ethical reasons.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Слоновая кость" is a compound noun phrase where "слоновая" is an adjective in the genitive feminine singular form, and "кость" is a feminine noun. Russian nouns like "кость" follow the first declension pattern, which means it inflects for case, number, and gender. The adjective "слоновая" agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case.

For example, here is a table showing the inflections of "кость" in its singular and plural forms:

The adjective "слоновая" will change accordingly: e.g., in genitive singular: слоновой кости. This phrase is invariable as a whole in terms of its core meaning but must agree in context.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: бивень (tusk, more literal to the animal part), зуб слона (elephant tooth, informal variant)
• Note: "Бивень" is often used interchangeably but emphasizes the tusk itself rather than the processed material.
• Antonyms: синтетический материал (synthetic material), which contrasts with natural ivory in modern contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Торговля слоновой костью - Refers to the illegal trade of ivory, often discussed in conservation contexts.
• Изделия из слоновой кости - Means "ivory products" or artifacts, commonly used in historical or artistic discussions.
• Браконьерство слоновой кости - Indicates "ivory poaching," highlighting illegal hunting for this material.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "слоновая кость" directly corresponds to the English "ivory" as a material, but it's more formal and compound. Use it in contexts involving history, ecology, or law. Be cautious with gender agreement: the adjective must match the noun's case. For color references (e.g., "ivory color"), Russians might say "цвет слоновой кости," which is less common than direct English equivalents. Choose this term over simpler alternatives like "бивень" when emphasizing the refined or cultural aspect.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кость слона" instead of "слоновая кость." Correct: слоновая кость (the standard compound form). Explanation: "Кость слона" is grammatically incorrect as it inverts the structure; Russian prefers the adjective-noun order for such descriptions.
• Error: Failing to decline the noun in sentences, e.g., saying "из слоновая кость" instead of "из слоновой кости." Correct: из слоновой кости. Explanation: Russian requires genitive case for materials in prepositional phrases, which English learners often overlook.
• Error: Translating directly as "айвори" in informal speech, which is not idiomatic. Correct: Stick to "слоновая кость." Explanation: Borrowing English words is rare in Russian for this concept; use native terms for authenticity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "слоновая кость" is often associated with historical artifacts from the tsarist era or Soviet ethnography, symbolizing luxury and exoticism. However, due to international bans like CITES, it carries connotations of environmental conservation and anti-poaching efforts, reflecting Russia's involvement in global wildlife protection initiatives.

Related Concepts:

• слон (elephant)
• браконьерство (poaching)
• музейные экспонаты (museum exhibits)